Rex Rabbit

Is a Rex rabbit right for you?

The Rex rabbit takes its name from a natural gene mutation that appeared in a village in France in 1919 and all but removes the guard hair from the coat. The result is a dense, short fur that feels velvety to the touch — reportedly earning it the nickname "the king's rabbit" in France. One correction first: rabbits are not rodents; they belong to the order lagomorpha. Listing them alongside rodents on this site is only for convenience. Going by the size in our database, this guide covers the medium-to-large-bodied Standard Rex; a smaller Mini Rex variety also exists.

The most critical point: the Rex's short, guard-hair-free coat reduces the need for daily brushing, but the same trait also reduces the natural cushioning on the feet. In this breed, a hard or wire floor, excess weight, and dirty bedding can cause sore hocks more easily than in other rabbit breeds.

Before you adopt

The kit should be at least 8 weeks old and not separated from its mother too early. Check:

• Teeth: the front incisors should meet scissor-fashion, uppers just in front of the lowers.
• Foot pads: the underside of the hind feet should show no redness, thinning fur, or small scabs; this is an early warning sign specific to the Rex.
• Nose and eyes: no discharge or sneezing.
• Coat: should lie short and dense; sparse, dull, or obviously balding patches are a sign of poor health.

Rabbits live as long as a cat or dog; plan for at least 6-8 years. Before adopting, find out whether there is a vet in your area experienced with rabbits.

Social needs and neutering

Rabbits live in groups in the wild, and welfare organisations advise against keeping them alone. The most compatible pairing is a neutered male with a neutered female. Housing with a guinea pig is not a good solution; their dietary needs differ, and a rabbit can injure a guinea pig.

Neutering does more than prevent breeding — it reduces urine marking and aggression. Uterine cancer is common in unneutered females.

Living space: extra attention to foot health

The Rabbit Welfare Association recommends at least 3 m x 2 m of floor space and 1 m of height, as a single continuous enclosure, for two rabbits; for a medium-to-large Rex this is a minimum, and bigger is preferable.

• Flooring: a flat, non-slip surface is essential. Do not use wire-mesh flooring; the Rex's guard-hair-free coat cushions the feet less, and wire flooring noticeably raises the risk of sore hocks in this breed.
• Bedding: soft, absorbent bedding kept dry (paper pellets, thick straw). Wet or dirty bedding softens the skin and makes sores easier to form; change it often.
• Nail care: long nails shift weight onto the hock area and raise the risk of sores; trim regularly.
• Weight control: overweight rabbits have a markedly higher risk of sore hocks.
• Hideout: a two-entrance house or cardboard box.
• Temperature: Turkish summers are risky; the ideal environment is around 18-20 °C. Never leave a rabbit on a sun-exposed balcony or in a closed car.

Feeding: the hay rule

A rabbit's diet is mostly hay. Hay keeps the gut moving and wears down teeth that grow throughout life.

• Hay (unlimited, the bulk of the diet): timothy or meadow hay, fresh daily; aim for roughly a rabbit-body-sized amount each day.
• Pellets (small amount): a measured portion based on body weight; avoid colourful, grain-based "muesli" mixes.
• Greens (a handful daily): lettuce leaves (not iceberg heart), rocket, dill, coriander, mint, sweet pepper.
• Fruit and carrot: a sugary treat; a small piece a few times a week is enough.
• Water: a shallow, weighted bowl is preferred, refreshed daily.

Do not give: bread, biscuits, crackers, grain, nuts, chocolate, avocado, onion, potato, human food.

Health and lifespan

Sources generally give a lifespan of 6-8 years, consistent with the 5-8 year range in our database.

Issues that stand out in, or are specific to, this breed:

• Sore hocks (pododermatitis): the Rex's best-known specific risk. The absence of guard hair reduces the natural cushioning on the feet; hard or wire flooring, excess weight, and dirty bedding all raise the risk. Early signs are thinning fur and redness; see a vet if crusting or bleeding appears, as it can progress to a hard-to-treat abscess.
• GI stasis: the rabbit stops eating and droppings shrink or stop entirely. Not eating or passing droppings for 12 hours is an emergency — do not wait until morning.
• Dental problems: insufficient hay prevents normal tooth wear; drooling and dropping food are signs.
• Heatstroke: hot, red ears, rapid breathing, lethargy. Move it to a cool room, wet the ears with cool water, and call your vet; do not wrap the rabbit in a wet towel.
• E. cuniculi: can cause head tilt and loss of balance.
• Uterine cancer: common in unneutered females.

Vaccinations: myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHDV1 and RHDV2) are often fatal and can reach an indoor rabbit via flies, fleas, or clothing. Ask your vet which vaccines are available.

Do not: give antibiotics not prescribed by a vet; several common antibiotics cause fatal gut disruption in rabbits.

Coat care and handling

1. Brushing once or twice a week is enough. The short, guard-hair-free coat does not mat the way long-haired breeds' coats do; the Rex counts as low-maintenance in this respect.
2. Check the foot pads at every brushing. Thinning fur or redness is an early warning.
3. If you need to lift it, support the chest with one hand and the hindquarters and rump with the other. Never lift by the ears or the scruff.
4. Keep it low and keep sessions short.
5. Nails are trimmed every 4-6 weeks. Do not bathe a rabbit unnecessarily.

Enrichment

1. A digging box. A cardboard box filled with paper scraps or hay.
2. Tunnels and platforms.
3. Foraging: hide pellets in the hay.
4. Gnawing material: untreated willow, apple branches, cardboard tubes.
5. Daily activity: access to a large area during its most active morning and evening hours.

History and origins

The Rex rabbit descends from a natural mutation that appeared in a litter of wild rabbits in the French village of Louché-Pringé in 1919; the mutation almost entirely removes the guard hair, giving the coat a velvety texture. It was shown at an international rabbit exhibition in Paris in 1924, soon reached the United States, and was recognised by the American Rabbit Breeders' Association (ARBA). Its ancestor is the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), which lives in colonies in tunnel systems — the source of its need to dig, hide, and have company.